Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Ay, here her tattered ensign down!
Long has it waved on high,
And many an eye has read more

Ay, here her tattered ensign down!
Long has it waved on high,
And many an eye has danced to see
That banner in the sky.

The world's great men have not commonly been great scholars, nor
its great scholars great men.

The world's great men have not commonly been great scholars, nor
its great scholars great men.

I never dare to write
As funny as I can.

I never dare to write
As funny as I can.

The axis of the earth sticks out visibly through the centre of
each and every town or city.

The axis of the earth sticks out visibly through the centre of
each and every town or city.

Scarce one tall frigate walks the sea
Or skirts the safer shores
Of all that bore to read more

Scarce one tall frigate walks the sea
Or skirts the safer shores
Of all that bore to victory
Our stout old Commodores.